THE independent review into the future of maternity services at Hope Hospital has signalled the end of the Salfordian by backing plans to axe the units for good.

Dr Peter Barrett, chair of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, says members agreed that changes were needed to benefit people across Greater Manchester

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THE independent review into the future of maternity services at Hope Hospital has signalled the end of the Salfordian by backing plans to axe the units for good.

A controversial decision was made last year to close Hope's maternity and neonatal intensive care units but the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) was asked to consider it after thousands of people appealed.

The panel's recommendation was then considered by the new Health Secretary Alan Johnson and on Friday it was revealed he had decided to back the original proposals.

Plans are now set to come into play within three to five years. After that date babies will only continue to be born in the city either at home or if health chiefs decide to set up stand-alone midwife-led units.

Dr Peter Barrett, chair of the IRP, said: "Members of the IRP agreed unanimously that changes to existing services must be made for the benefit of people across the whole of Greater Manchester. The existing configuration of services is unsustainable and modernisation of services is long overdue.

"Throughout our review we have focused on ensuring the people of Manchester have access to high quality services. Subject to successful implementation, the planned changes (set out in the Making it Better and Healthy Futures consultations), together with our additional recommendations, will ensure that care is safe and sustainable and is provided in the most appropriate locations."

Under the plans consultant-led maternity services will be based at eight sites in Greater Manchester - at Wigan, Royal Bolton, Royal Oldham, St Mary's, Stepping Hill, Wythenshawe, North Manchester and Tameside. The panel states that paediatric and neonatal services should be co-located on these sites.

The IRP also supported the proposal that neonatal intensive care should be provided by a clinical network of three centres with the largest numbers of births: St Mary's, the Royal Bolton and the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Hope's highly-rated neonatal unit will be re-established in the new locations. The panel strongly recommended that community and primary care developments must be successfully introduced before changes to inpatient services are made.

Antenatal and postnatal care and child health services should be accessible locally wherever possible and fully integrated with other relevant services including social care.

The IRP also believes that local health bosses should consider opportunities to provide women with greater choice in their healthcare through the provision of midwife-led units (MLU) on the eight main sites, as well as at Bury, Salford and Trafford.